Ncuti Gatwa (Born Ncuti Gatwa) is a Rwandan-Scottish actor. He is best known for portraying Eric Effiong in the Netflix series Sex Education and the Fifteenth Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Mizero Ncuti Gatwa
- Stage Name: Ncuti Gatwa
- Born: October 15, 1992
- Age: 33 years old
- Birthplace: Nyarugenge, Kigali, Rwanda
- Nationality: Rwandan and British
- Ethnicity: Black African (Rwandan)
- Occupation: Actor
- Height: 5’10” (178 cm)
- Religion: Christianity
- Parents: Tharcisse Gatwa and Josephine Gatwa
- Siblings: One brother and one sister
- Spouse: Jessica Hardwick
- Children: None
- Relationship: Single
- Net Worth: $2 million USD
Early Life and Education
Mizero Ncuti Gatwa was born on October 15, 1992, in Nyarugenge, Kigali, Rwanda, to Rwandan parents Tharcisse Gatwa, a journalist with a PhD in Theology from the Karongi District, and Josephine Gatwa.
He has two older siblings, one brother and one sister. His family, of Black African Rwandan ethnicity with traditional Christian roots, fled the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi when he was two years old and settled as refugees in Scotland, first in Oxgangs, Edinburgh, before moving to Dunfermline when he was 15.
Raised in a Christian household where he attended church regularly in his early years, he later distanced himself from formal religious practice.
He attended Boroughmuir High School and Dunfermline High School, then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013.
Career
Ncuti Gatwa began his professional acting career after drama school with small roles, including a cameo in The Bob Servant Show.
He gained international recognition as the flamboyant, heartfelt Eric Effiong in Netflix’s Sex Education (2019–2023), starring alongside Asa Butterfield and Emma Mackey, earning critical acclaim and awards, including the BAFTA Scotland Award.
His breakthrough led to high-profile film roles, including the role of Artist Ken in the 2023 blockbuster Barbie.
In 2023, he made history as the first Black actor to play the lead in Doctor Who, debuting as the Fifteenth Doctor and continuing through subsequent seasons with dynamic, emotionally rich performances.
His work spans television, film, and theatre, including stage productions like The Importance of Being Earnest and Born With Teeth.
He has also appeared in projects such as The Roses (2025) and continues to expand his range with charismatic, boundary-pushing characters that blend vulnerability and charisma.
Social Media
- Instagram: @ncutigatwa
Personal Life
Ncuti Gatwa, 33, is currently single and not engaged. He publicly came out as queer in a 2023 interview with Elle magazine, preferring not to use specific labels for his sexuality and citing concerns for his safety and mental health earlier in his career.
He was previously linked to Jessica Hardwick around 2018, with whom he shared social media posts that have since been removed, but no long-term or confirmed past relationships are widely documented beyond that. He maintains a private personal life focused on his career and family roots. He stands at a height of 5’10” (178 cm).
Net Worth
Ncuti Gatwa’s net worth is estimated at $2 million USD. He earns income primarily through his acting roles in major series such as Sex Education and Doctor Who, where lead salaries have significantly boosted his earnings, along with film appearances like Barbie, theatre work, brand endorsements, and payments from his production company, Gemini Moon Ltd.
Filmography
- Doctor Who (2023–present) as the Fifteenth Doctor – Lead role (multiple seasons, including 2025-2026 episodes)
- The Roses (2025)
- Barbie (2023) as Artist Ken
- Sex Education (2019–2023) as Eric Effiong
- The Last Letter from Your Lover (2021) as Nick
- Born With Teeth (theatre)
- Upcoming projects in television and film